What is most important to you – your nation, culture, class, race, gender — or first and foremost being in God and a new and international community of God’s people?
Reflections
A Polarized Church both Then and Now
by John Freund, CM | April 26, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
Growing up, I was fascinated by fading pictures meticulously glued into some decades-old family albums. There I saw pictures of my mother and father before I was born.
A Vincentian View: The Good Shepherd
by Pat Griffin, CM | April 24, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment
In the 23rd Psalm, the psalmist proclaims, “My shepherd is the Lord.” I imagine that when Jesus prayed these words, he found a depiction of himself.
Mother Theresa and her “call within a call”
by John Freund, CM | April 24, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment
In 1946, during a train ride from Calcutta to Darjeeling, Mother Teresa received what she called, “the call within a call.” The Lord asked her to begin a new religious community that would live and work with the poorest of the poor.
Contemplation: Chosen From All Eternity – SSVP USA, a Weekly Reflection
by Tim Williams | April 23, 2024 | Formation, Reflections, Society of St. Vincent de Paul | 0 Comments
Call to Action to Address Systemic Racism
by Vincentian Family Social Justice Advocates in North America | Jun 10, 2021 | Formation, Reflections
We are a group of Vincentian Family social justice advocates from Canada and the United States collaborating together to hear and respond to the cries of our Common Home, Earth, and her peoples. We especially choose to address systemic racism and our complicity in it.
Are the homeless to blame for their homelessness?
by Fr. Michael Carroll, CM | Jun 10, 2021 | Formation, Homelessness, Reflections
We must debunk the myths around why people become homeless so we can move toward solutions. Most never stop to put themselves in the shoes of the people they see suffering from homelessness.
All Roads Journey to Jesus
by Lynn L'Heureux | Dec 28, 2015 | Formation, Reflections, Society of St. Vincent de Paul
All Roads Journey to Jesus – The road most traveled, for Vincentians, is the road to service and when we arrive at our destination we see the face of Jesus.
Family of an unusual love
by Ross Dizon | Dec 27, 2015 | Formation, Reflections
God wants us, who belong to his family now, to love to the end. Interestingly, bêt’āb in Hebrew, literally “the father’s house,” is translated too as “family,” which indicates the patriarchal character of the Hebrew family. But, of course, there is in God no male...
What Can I Give?
by Aidan R. Rooney, C.M. | Dec 25, 2015 | Formation, Reflections
https://youtu.be/kjRXIiZ8bs0 This is to give the greatest gift: to go out from ones self and to enter the world of the “other,” is to understand the meaning of Christmas. For this journey, there are five virtues, seen by Vincent as those characteristic of Jesus,...
Can I go to them?
by John Freund, CM | Dec 23, 2015 | Daughters of Charity, Formation, Reflections
Can I go to them? This is the question Pope Francis asked when he learned that three people were killed in a neighborhood of Bangui, capital of the war-torn Central African Republic. It wasn’t in the schedule so the Pope immediately asked the Nuncio: ‘can I go, can I...
Savior and Messiah and Lord of all
by Ross Dizon | Dec 22, 2015 | Formation, Reflections
The Savior comes with a great light to save us in an unexpected way. Now appears the grace of God. Though he may dictate to the whole world, Caesar Augustus does not save, nor does governor Quirinius, an opportunist among many, not even king David, who gives renown to...
Mary and Darkness – Fr. Tom Mckenna reflects
by John Freund, CM | Dec 21, 2015 | Formation, Reflections
Father Tom McKenna offers this final Advent reflection - Mary and Darkness There’s a verse somewhere in the Advent readings which sets a tone for much of the season. “Over you shall come a great darkness.” If you heard that line standing by itself and out of the...
A Cry in the Silence
by John Freund, CM | Dec 20, 2015 | Formation, Reflections
A Cry in the Silence - Another reflection in Fr. Pat Griffin's series Considering Consecrated Life Of all the songs associated with the Christmas season, is any one more widely known or sung than “Silent Night”? I think that every Christmas pageant or show which I...
Vincentian Convictions and Gestures with regard to Mercy
by John Freund, CM | Dec 19, 2015 | Congregation of the Mission, Formation, Reflections
Vincentian Convictions and Gestures with regard to Mercy By: Father José Antonio González P. CM Pope Francis, with the publication of the Bull, Misericordiae Vultus, has called us to live the Jubilee of Mercy. The Pope tells us that the jubilee is a special...
Fourth Sunday of Advent – LCUSA
by John Freund, CM | Dec 19, 2015 | Formation, Reflections
Fourth Sunday of Advent 2015 – Reflection This week’s reflection was written by Ruth Noel, Vincentian Spiritual Moderator for the Ladies of Charity. Excerpt... “…I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your word.” Mary is the example of one who...